Taxi Cabs

Unregistered · Apr 1, 2011

Hi! We are going to Chicago and we are wondering if it is illegal to ride in a taxi without a car seat. We know it is not the safest idea, but we are just looking at our options! Especially with the rainy forecast....
THANK YOU!!!

T4K · Apr 1, 2011

I'm not sure if it's the legality I'd be worried about.

Are you willing to risk your child's life?

ETA: I'd get familiar with their public transit system.

StPaulMom · Apr 1, 2011

Laws are funny things- sometimes they tell you that you're allowed to do things that are so insanely unsafe that you can't help but wonder who would have made it legal.

You'd (presumably) never hop in your own car to run to the grocery store and not put your child in their car seat, right? A cab is still a car. Whatever the legal requirement is, the law of physics (the one that says your child could be severely injured or killed in even a minor crash) doesnt change when you get in a cab. A car is a car and a crash is a crash.

Luckily, you have good options. Chicago has great public transportation (buses and the EL), so you wont need a cab. And if it comes down to it, I'd rather walk 20 blocks in the rain rather than knowingly put my child into a dangerous situation like riding in a car without a car seat.

littleangelfire · Apr 1, 2011

Hello, welcome! First, I'll honestly answer question: Yes, it's legal.

Now to that I'd like to add something. LOTS of things are legal that aren't safe, that are horrible ideas. Where I live it's legal to ride a motorcycle on the highway without a helmet. Pretty much everywhere it's legal to get drunk while you're pregnant, smoke while you're pregnant, even though those things are very dangerous. On the flip side, there's some laws on the books that are insane: in some municipalities it is still, to this day, on the books that it's illegal to swear or walk on a certain side of the street. So, laws, yeah, they're not the greatest decision maker.

Facts are. Facts are that taxies are no different than any other vehicle, and your child is at just as much danger as in any other vehicle. Perhaps more so because you don't know that taxi driver nor his driving habits.

If you tell us your child's age, torso height (measure from butt to shoulder) and weight, we can help you find the easiest option to use. there are some really travel friendly options out there that work depending on the child.

mylittlet · Apr 1, 2011

If you tell us the age, weight, torso height and we might be able to suggest a seat that will fit in your backpack.

Stefanie, cpst in iowa - mom to 4 great kids

Chris · Apr 1, 2011

As the others have said, there are better options than risking your child's life. If your child is big enough, and you know that you are definitely going to be taking taxi's rather than public transit, you may want to look into the ride safer travel vest. Your child can wear it, hop in the taxi, buckle her/him in and off you go. It should easily fit into a backpack/large bag for in between rides, and could be carried with you most of the time. I haven't ever used one, just considered it for some travelling we have coming up. Other people here on the boards know way more about them than I do and could help you with fit and best price.

Taxi Cabs

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